ccr&r logo NE District Child Care Resource & Referral

Program of Employment & Training Center
Pine Technical College, Pine City, MN

| We Can Help! | Becoming Licensed | Education & Training | Grants | Financial Resources |

Provider Services

Are you a child care provider or thinking of getting started in child care?

WE CAN HELP!

We can help you find training that fits your needs and meets your goals.

We can assist you in getting grants for starting or expanding your business.

We offer assistance in filling vacancies in your program through free parent referrals

  • We have resource materials to support your work with children and families
  • We can help you with the licensing process.
  • We provide consultation and support to start and/or strengthen your child care program
  • We can give you advice to promote your services.
  • We can provide support with accounting, scheduling, and other issues to help you manage your business more effectively.

If you have questions regarding your child care business or if you need information on starting a licensed child care, contact your local CCR&R agency:


If you live in Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis Counties,
Contact Julie @:
800-450-0450 or 218-733-2975

If you live in Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd or Wadena Counties,
Contact Denise @:
800-422-7395 or 218-422-7395

If you live on the Leech Lake Reservation,
Contact Becky @:
800-551-0969 or 218-335-8257

If you live in Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs or Pine Counties,
Contact Mary @:
800-890-5399 or 320-629-5141

Becoming Licensed
In Minnesota, family child care must meet standards for caregiver qualifications, physical environment, number of children per caregiver, behavior guidance, required policies and records, activities, and equipment. Click here for a general overview of these standards.
View a complete description of the Minnesota Rules here

Contact your local social services agency to request an application and to get information about becoming a licensed provider. At the time of application, the applicant and all specified household members, over the age of 13, must have a background study. A fire inspection may also be required under certain conditions. Many counties offer a licensing orientation meeting, where you can get an overview of the licensing process.

Family Child Care Licensing


Aitkin County:                        

218-927-3744

Carlton County:                      

218-879-4583

Cass County:                          

218-547-1340

Chisago County:                     

651-277-0360

Cook County:                         

218-387-3608 Ext. 118

Crow Wing County:               

218-824-1344

Isanti County:                         

763-689-1711

Itasca County:                         

218-327-6153

Kanabec County:                    

320-679-6354

Koochiching County:              

218-283-8405

Lake County:                          

218-834-8426

Mille Lacs County:                 

320-983-8208

Morrison County:                    

320-632-0248 
320-632-0265

Pine County:                           

320-629-5705

St. Louis County – Duluth:   

218-726-2175  
218-726-2176

St. Louis County – Virginia:   

218-742-9528

Todd County:                         

320-732-4530

Wadena County:                     

218-631-7605

Tribal Licensing: 


Fond Du Lac Reservation:            

218-878-2138

Leech Lake:                            

800-551-0969

Child Care Center Licensing           

651-296-3971

Center Licensing:
The Department of Human Services is responsible for licensing child care centers. They can be reached at (651)296-3971.

Click here to see the various types of child care licenses and the ratios of children to adults.

Education and Training

You can find more information regarding time and location of the classes offered by referring to our training catalog or by visiting www.mnstreams.org.

How to Register:
1. Online at www.mnstreams.org (must pay by credit card)
2. By mail by completing the registration form and mailing it to our office
3. By phone by calling our registration line at (800)890-5399 or (320)629-5164 (must pay by credit card)

  • Cancellation and Refund Policy

1. A credit will be issued for classes cancelled due to low registration (less than 5 participants) or due to weather conditions.
2. A credit will be issued for cancellations prior to the class date.  Credit can then be used for payment for future classes.
3. Refunds will not be given except in extenuating circumstances.
4. Extenuating circumstances will be considered and determined by the CCR&R staff.

  • Weather Cancellations

Cancellations due to weather will be made the day of the scheduled classes.  If a class is cancelled, we will put an announcement on our referral line:  800-890-5399.

  • Grant Training Requirements

All classes listed in the CCR&R Catalog and on www.mnstreams.org, are accepted for Child Care Resource and Referral grant training requirements.  For questions regarding training to meet the grants requirement, please contact our grants administrator @ 800-890-5399.

What is a CDA?
A Child Development Associate (CDA) is an individual who has successfully completed the CDA assessment process and has been awarded the CDA Credential.  The CDA requires 120 hours of child care training in 8 subject areas.  The classes in our catalogs are identified by which of the 8 subject areas they fulfill.  For more information, contact the Council for Professional Recognition at
(800)424-4310 or visit www.cdacouncil.org.

On Line Classes
The Minnesota Child Care Resource & Referral has an on-line learning program, for people who care for children, called Eager to Learn.  Click on the logo for a complete list of class offerings. 
Eager-to-Learn logo

T.E.A.C.H

T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education And Compensation Helps) Early Childhood® MINNESOTA seeks to improve education and compensation for child care providers, while reducing turnover rates.
TEACH is a scholarship program that helps child care providers earning a college degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development. The scholarship pays for a large portion of college tuition and books and also provides assistance with transportation and substitution costs. Successful scholarship recipients also qualify for a pay raise or bonus upon completion of their scholarship contract.
Centers and providers can use their participation in the TEACH program as a recruitment and advertising tool as well as market the reduced turnover rates and increased quality of their programs. Most critically, children benefit from caregivers who are specialists in early childhood education and understand the complexities of child development. 
For more information click here.


Grants
With the exception of Start-up and Emergency grants, that are on-going while funds last, the grants are open for application in the fall of each year.  Applications will be available at www.mnstreams.org from the first day of availability through the deadline date.  Please watch your mail, our training catalog and newsletter, and your local newspapers for announcements of application availability.  You may also request that an application be sent to you, by calling 1-800-890-5399 or by e-mailing ccr&r@pinetech.edu.

Start Up Grants
Funds are available, on an ongoing basis, to assist with the costs associated with start-up of newly licensed or soon to be licensed child care providers/programs.  Grants are limited to items and services required by licensing or the Fire Marshal.

Quality Care Grants
These funds are available to licensed or soon to be licensed providers to increase the quality of care for all children in their care.  This may include educational items, equipment, and/or professional development opportunities.

Emergency Grants
These grants are available, on an ongoing basis, to assist licensed child care providers/programs and school-age care programs that are experiencing and emergency that jeopardizes their immediate ability to provide care.

Infant/Toddler Incentive Grants
These age specific grants are available to increase the quality and availability of licensed infant/toddler care in Minnesota. 

School-Age Care Grants
These age specific grants are available for school-age programs who provide care for at least 10 school age youth, or to Family Child Care Providers who provide care to a minimum of 2 school-age youth.

Grant Requirements
Providers who receive grant awards are required to:

  • Provide active licensed child care in Minnesota for a period of two years after receiving your grant award, or repay the grant on a pro-rated basis.
  • Complete a certain amount of training. The training requirement is 12 hours of training for a grant award of up to $500 or 16 hours for a grant award of more than $500.

Approved Training:All CCR&R sponsored or co-sponsored trainings are considered approved training options. The 12 or 16 hours of training that you will be required to complete must be from:

  • from a list of approved training projects or curriculums. Contact the grants administrator @ 800-890-5399 or ccr&r@pinetech.edu for a complete list of accepted classes.

Note: Association trainings must be co-sponsored by CCR&R or one of the approved training projects to count towards the grant requirement.

R.E.E.T.A.I.N Grants
Are you a child care provider in Minnesota who holds an Associate Degree or higher, or have you earned and maintained a CDA credential from the Council for Professional Recognition? Then you could qualify for a REETAIN grant.
R.E.E.T.A.I.N (Retaining Early Educators Through Attaining Incentives Now) is a workforce retention program that strives to reduce the turnover rates among child care providers who work with young children. Grant recipients are free to use grant dollars as they choose. Grant dollars are considered additional salary and may be used to pay bills, reinvest in your in your child care setting, or cover personal expenses.
Awards
The grants range from $1000 to $3500 depending upon the level of education attained.
The grant application period occurs once a year:

  • For family providers –June 1 through July 31st
  • For center-based providers – December 1st through January 31st .

Applications are available at MNStreams.org only during these time periods.
Requirements
REETAIN is a program that offers grants to providers who:

  • Are licensed or work for a licensed program
  • Work at least 30 hours per week directly with same one or two groups of children
  • Have been working in their current position for at least one year
  • Have earned a CDA, Associate Degree, Bachelors degree or higher
  • Are willing to commit to staying in their position for one year.


If you meet the basic requirements listed above, please log on to www.MNSTREAMS.org beginning June 1, 2007 to apply. You will need a user id and password to login. If you do not know your user id and password, contact Northeast CCR&R at 1-800-890-5399. Although online application is preferred, applicants can print the application from the website and mail them in.

REETAIN Grant Timeline: (Summer round for family child care providers)
June 1, 2007- First day to fill out an online application
July 31, 2007-(Postmarked) Last day to submit supplementary REETAIN materials
August 15, 2007-(Approximately) Recipients will be notified of their award
September 15, 2007-(Postmarked) Contracts must be submitted
December 2007-First half of the REETAIN grant is mailed to the recipients
June 2008-Second half of the REETAIN grant is mailed to the recipients

To find out more information about the R.E.E.T.A.I.N. grant visit www.mnchildcare.org or call the Minnesota Child Care Resource & Referral Network office at 888-308-3224 extension 107.

Center based child care providers: Mark your calendars for the winter round of REETAIN grants beginning December 1, 2007

 

Family, Friend & Neighbor Incentive Grants
As a Family, Friend and Neighbor provider, you care for children who are part of your extended family, circle of friends or in your neighborhood, while the parents are at work or school.  Even if you do not get paid, you are part of this group, and you play an important part in preparing that child for success in school.  Please call the NE District office @ 1-800-890-5399 or e-mail us at ccr&r@pinetech.edu, for supportive services, such as information on child development, first aid/safety classes and free supplies.

 Financial Resources

Loans
First Children's Finance provides loans to child care and early education centers. They offer loans for new businesses or expansion, and quality improvements or equipment/furniture/toys for existing homes or centers.

Visit First Children’s Finance on-line or call 1-866-562-6801 for more information.

T.E.A.C.H Scholarships

TEACH offers scholarships to child care providers who want a CDA, an Associate's Degree, or a Bachelor's Degree.
 
TEACH covers 85% of the CDA Assessment Fee, and up to 80% of the cost of tuition and books for Associate's and Bachelor's degree students seeking a degree in child development or early childhood education.
 
TEACH also offers money for travel, release time, and a bonus (if applicable to the scholarship).
 
To learn more about TEACH scholarships, visit www.mnchildcare.org or call the Minnesota Child Care Resource & Referral Network office at 888-308-3224 ext.107, 108, or 109.